Improvement in tube-expanders



' 2 SheetS--Sheet l. P. FITZGIBBNS.

Tube-Expander. N0, 165,320l Patentedjuly 6,1875.v

WITNESSEQ y INVENTDH- N.FETERS, PHOTOLITHDGRAPHEH. WASMINBTOND4 C.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2. P. FITZGI'BBUNS.

Tube Expander v .m ...u 4 mi x .M K TAA Q, 0 S. f..

NTTED STATES `,PATENT QFFroc.

PATRICK FITZGIBVBoNs, or oswneo, New YORK,

IMPROVEMENT IN TUBE-EXPANDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,320, dated July 6,1875; application filed March 15, 1875. Y

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK FrTzerBBoNs, ofOswego, in the county of Oswego and in the State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube Expanders 5 and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making a part of thislspeciiication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveView of my improved device as arranged for use. Fig. 2 is acentrallongitudinal section ofthe same, and Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectionsupon lines m oo and yy, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

The design of my invention is to render more easy and certain theoperation of beading the lends of boiler-hues; and it consists,principally, in the means employed for securing the mandrel or frame ofthe device within a iiue, substantially -as and for the purposehereinafter specied. It consists, further, in the device as a whole, itsseveral parts being combined to operate in the manner and for thepurpose hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a round mandrel, having at one endan enlargement, A, and provided upon the periphery of its smallerportion with a screw-thread, a,

. which extends from its end nearly to said head.

Within the mandrel A isformed a central longitudinal opening, af, whichextends-"entirely through the same, and, for about one-half its lengthwithin the head portion, has a regularly-increasing diameter 'fromwithin outward. At equidistant points within the head A are formed threeradial slots, a a, Src.,v

within each of which is placed a block, B, that has slightly-greaterradial dimensions than said head from the opening a outward, and uponits outer face is provided with serrations or teeth b b, 8vo. A mandrel,G, corresponding in general size and shape to the like features oftheopening a within the hollow mandrel A,but havin g considerably greaterlength, is Itted into said opening, and, at its largest tapered portionc, furnishes a bearing for the inner-faces of the blocks B B, 8vo. Thesmaller end of the mandrel C is provided with a screwthread, o', andupon the same is tted a nut, D, which, when turned downward, bearsagainst the corresponding end ot' the hollow mandrel A, and draws saidinner mandrel C longitudinally through the same, such movement causing alarger portion of the tapered portion c to be brought between the innerfaces ofthe blocks or jaws B and B, so as to move the latter radiallyoutward.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that by placing the head Awithinthe end of a tube, and expanding the jaws, the latter may becaused to engage so irmly within the interior of said tube as to preventtheir displacement by any strain less than would cause breakage.

The smaller portion of the hollow mandrel A, which when in position,projects beyond the end of a boiler-tube, furnishes a bearing for acylindrical head, E, which fits loosely over, and may be revolved upon,said part. rIhree rollers, F F, tc., each provided within its peripherywith a halfround groove, f, are pivoted within suitable bearings G G,Sto., that are secured within the end of the head E adjacent to the headA,-the axis of each roller being placed upon a line radially with thecenter ot' motion ot' said headE. Aunt, H, tted upon the threadedportion a ofthe hollow mandrel A, furnishes a means whereby the revolving head E maybe pressed toward the head A. In order that the frictionbetween said head E and nut H may not cause the latter to turn, awasher, I, is interposed between said parts. Suitable radial holes d, e,and h, respectively, provided within the nut D, head E, and nut H, forthe insertion of pins for rotatingsaid parts, complete the device, theoperation of which is as follows The end A' of the mandrel A is insertedwithin the end of a boiler-tube, and locked in position, after which thenut H is turned inward until the rollers F F, Ste., bear against the endof said tube, and the head E rotated, so as to cause said rollers totravel around said end. The nut H is moved slightly inward at eachrevolution of the head E, so as to cause a considerable pressure of therollers F F, 8vo., to be constantly maintained upon the end of the tube,by which means the latter is gradually upset or beaded until asteam-tight joint is'fornied between said flue end and thc fluesheet.

There being no outward support required for the device, it is capable ofuse in places where, from lack of space, other forms of tools could notbe employed, and, in addition thereto, can be used in anyplace with asgreat economy of time and labor as can tools of other construction.

I am aware that radially-movin g jaws, operated by means of a taperingcentral mandrel, are not new, and therefore do not claim the same,broadly.

Having thusI fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, whatI claim as new 1S- 1. In combination with the hollow mandrel AA',provided with the radial openings a a, Sac., the toothed jaws B B,&c.,plaoed within said openings, and the mandrel C, fitted into theaxial opening a4 within said mandrel A, provided withthe nut D, andhaving its tapered portion c bearing against the inner faces of saidjaws, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The mandrel A, A', a, a', and a, the

jaws B B, Ste., the mandrel C c c', the head E, Y

carrying the grooved rollers F F, 8vo., the nuts D and H, and the washerI, all constructed and combined to operate in the manner and for thepurpose substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 8th day of March, 1875.

PATRICK ITITZGIBBONS.

Witnesses WILLIAM TIFFANY, EDMUND QUILK.

